Tread Pattern For Article of Footwear

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear may include a sole having a lower surface. A forefoot region may include a first forefoot section and a second forefoot section separated by a first flex groove. The first flex groove may be formed by an upwardly extending elongate recess in the lower surface of the sole. In addition, the first forefoot section may include a first set of ground engaging members extending substantially downward, the first set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuate first arrangement. Also, the second forefoot section may include a second set of ground engaging members extending substantially downward, the second set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuate second arrangement. The first arrangement may be curved in a different direction than the second arrangement. Each ground engaging member of the first set of ground engaging members may have a length extending along an arc.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,440, entitled “ReinforcingMember for Article of Footwear,” and filed on Sep. 21, 2012, whichapplication is incorporated in its entirety by reference. Thisapplication also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,444, entitled “Tread Patternfor Article of Footwear,” and filed on Sep. 21, 2012, which applicationis incorporated in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a tread pattern for anarticle of footwear. It is advantageous, when participating in variousactivities, to have footwear that provides traction and stability on thesurface upon which the activities take place. Accordingly, solestructures for articles of footwear have been developed with tractionsystems that include ground engaging members to provide traction on avariety of surfaces. Examples include cleated shoes developed foroutdoor sports, such as soccer, football, and baseball.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article offootwear, including a sole having a lower surface exposed to the ground.The article of footwear may include a forefoot region having a firstforefoot section and a second forefoot section separated by a first flexgroove. The first flex groove may be formed by an upwardly extendingelongate recess in the lower surface of the sole. In addition, the firstforefoot section may include a first set of ground engaging membersextending substantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, thefirst set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuatefirst arrangement. Also, the second forefoot section may include asecond set of ground engaging members extending substantially downwardfrom the lower surface of the sole, the second set of ground engagingmembers forming a substantially arcuate second arrangement. The firstarrangement may be curved in a different direction than the secondarrangement. In addition, each ground engaging member of the first setof ground engaging members may have a length extending along an arc.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article offootwear including a ground engaging sole. The ground engaging sole mayinclude a lower surface exposed to the ground and divided, in a forefootregion of the article of footwear, into a first forefoot section and asecond forefoot section by a first flex groove formed by an upwardlyextending elongate recess in the lower surface of the sole. The firstforefoot section may include a first set of ground engaging membersextending substantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, thefirst set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuatefirst arrangement. The second forefoot section may include a second setof ground engaging members extending substantially downward from thelower surface of the sole, the second set of ground engaging membersforming a substantially arcuate second arrangement curved in a differentdirection than the arcuate arrangement of the first set of groundengaging members. The first set of ground engaging members may includetwo or more rows of ground engaging members having substantially thesame shape and the second set of ground engaging members includes two ormore rows of ground engaging members having substantially the sameshape. In addition, the first set of ground engaging members may eachhave a first shape and the second set of ground engaging members mayeach have a second shape substantially different from the first shape.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article offootwear including a sole. The sole may include a lower surface exposedto the ground. The lower surface may include a first forefoot sectionseparated from a second forefoot section by a first flex groove formedby an upwardly extending elongate recess in the lower surface of thesole. In addition, the lower surface may include a third forefootsection separated from the second forefoot section by a second flexgroove formed by an upwardly extending elongate recess in the lowersurface of the sole. Also, the first forefoot section may include afirst set of ground engaging members extending substantially downwardfrom the lower surface of the sole, the first set of ground engagingmembers forming a substantially arcuate first arrangement having a firstconcavity oriented in a first lateral direction. Further, the secondforefoot section may include a second set of ground engaging membersextending substantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, thesecond set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuatesecond arrangement having a first concavity oriented in a second lateraldirection substantially opposite the first lateral direction and awayfrom the first set of ground engaging members. The third forefootsection may include a third set of ground engaging members extendingsubstantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, the third setof ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuate thirdarrangement that shares an approximately similar center as thesubstantially arcuate second arrangement of the second set of groundengaging members.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article offootwear including a ground engaging sole. The sole may include a lowersurface exposed to the ground. In addition, the sole may include a firstset of ground engaging members extending substantially downward from thelower surface of the sole in a heel region of the article of footwear,the first set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuatefirst arrangement curved about a center point. The sole may furtherinclude a second set of ground engaging members in the heel region ofthe article of footwear and extending substantially downward from thelower surface of the sole, the second set of ground engaging membersbeing radially spaced from the first set of ground engaging members. Thesecond set of ground engaging members may be concentric with the firstset of ground engaging members, forming a substantially arcuate secondarrangement curved about approximately the same center point as thefirst set of ground engaging members.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article offootwear including a ground engaging sole. The sole may include a lowersurface exposed to the ground. The sole may also include a first set ofground engaging members extending substantially downward from the lowersurface of the sole in a heel region of the article of footwear, thefirst set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuatearrangement with a concavity in a rearward direction. In addition, thesole may include a second set of ground engaging members in the heelregion of the article of footwear, extending substantially downward fromthe lower surface of the sole, and forming a substantially arcuatearrangement with a concavity in a rearward direction. The second set ofground engaging members may be longitudinally displaced rearward of, anddiscontinuous with, the first set of ground engaging members. Inaddition, the first set of ground engaging members may include two ormore rows of ground engaging members having substantially the same shapeand the second set of ground engaging members includes two or more rowsof ground engaging members having substantially the same shape. Further,each ground engaging member in the second set of ground engaging membersmay have a length extending along an arc, a width that is shorter thanthe length and substantially constant along the length, and a heightthat is substantially constant along the length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 shows an elevation side view of an exemplary article of footwear;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of an exemplary sole for an article offootwear;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a forefoot region of the sole shownin FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a heel region of the sole shown inFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose a solestructure for an article of footwear. Concepts associated with thefootwear disclosed herein may be applied to a variety of athleticfootwear types, including cricket shoes, golf shoes, soccer shoes,baseball shoes, football shoes, and hiking shoes and boots, for example.Accordingly, the concepts disclosed herein apply to a wide variety offootwear types.

For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are employedthroughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustratedembodiments. The term “longitudinal,” as used throughout this detaileddescription and in the claims, refers to a direction extending a lengthof a sole structure, i.e., extending from a forefoot portion to a heelportion of the sole. The term “forward” is used to refer to the generaldirection in which the toes of a foot point, and the term “rearward” isused to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction in whichthe heel of the foot is facing.

The term “lateral direction,” as used throughout this detaileddescription and in the claims, refers to a side-to-side directionextending a width of a sole. In other words, the lateral direction mayextend between a medial side and a lateral side of an article offootwear, with the lateral side of the article of footwear being thesurface that faces away from the other foot, and the medial side beingthe surface that faces toward the other foot.

The term “lateral axis,” as used throughout this detailed descriptionand in the claims, refers to an axis oriented in a lateral direction.

The term “horizontal,” as used throughout this detailed description andin the claims, refers to any direction substantially parallel with theground, including the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction, andall directions in between. Similarly, the term “side,” as used in thisspecification and in the claims, refers to any portion of a componentfacing generally in a lateral, medial, forward, and/or rearwarddirection, as opposed to an upward or downward direction.

The term “vertical,” as used throughout this detailed description and inthe claims, refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both thelateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where a soleis planted flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extendfrom the ground surface upward. It will be understood that each of thesedirectional adjectives may be applied to individual components of asole. The term “upward” refers to the vertical direction heading awayfrom a ground surface, while the term “downward” refers to the verticaldirection heading towards the ground surface. Similarly, the terms“top,” “upper,” and other similar terms refer to the portion of anobject substantially furthest from the ground in a vertical direction,and the terms “bottom,” “lower,” and other similar terms refer to theportion of an object substantially closest to the ground in a verticaldirection.

For purposes of this disclosure, the foregoing directional terms, whenused in reference to an article of footwear, shall refer to the articleof footwear when sitting in an upright position, with the sole facinggroundward, that is, as it would be positioned when worn by a wearerstanding on a substantially level surface.

In addition, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “fixedlyattached” shall refer to two components joined in a manner such that thecomponents may not be readily separated (for example, without destroyingone or both of the components). Exemplary modalities of fixed attachmentmay include joining with permanent adhesive, rivets, stitches, nails,staples, welding or other thermal bonding, and/or other joiningtechniques. In addition, two components may be “fixedly attached” byvirtue of being integrally formed, for example, in a molding process.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of an article of footwear 10, which mayinclude a sole 105 and an upper 14. For reference purposes, footwear 10may be divided into three general regions: a forefoot region 16, amidfoot region 18, and a heel region 20. Forefoot region 16 generallyincludes portions of footwear 10 corresponding with the toes and thejoints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. Midfoot region 18generally includes portions of footwear 10 corresponding with an archarea of the foot. Heel region 20 generally corresponds with rearportions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone. Regions 16, 18, and20 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear 10. Rather,regions 16, 18, and 20 are intended to represent general relative areasof footwear 10 to aid in the following discussion.

Since sole 105 and upper 14 both span substantially the entire length offootwear 10, the terms forefoot region 16, midfoot region 18, and heelregion 20 apply not only to footwear 10 in general, but also to solestructure 12 and upper 14, as well as the individual elements of solestructure 12 and upper 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, sole 105 may have a lower surface 110 exposed to theground. Lower surface 110 may include various ground engaging members(cleats) extending generally downward from lower surface 110. Theseground engaging members may be disposed in arcuate arrangements toprovide directionally specific traction. Exemplary such arcuatearrangements are discussed in greater detail below.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of sole 105. As shown in FIG. 2, forefootregion 16 may be subdivided into a first forefoot section 125, a secondforefoot section 130, and a third forefoot section 135. In someembodiments, first forefoot section 125, second forefoot section 130,and third forefoot section 135 may be separated by flex grooves. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 2, sole 105 may include a first flex groove150, formed as an elongate recess in lower surface 110. First flexgroove 150 may separate first forefoot section 125 from second forefootsection 130. In some embodiments, first flex groove 150 may form athinner portion (in a vertical direction) of an outsole portion of sole105 than other portions of the outsole (such as first forefoot section125 and second forefoot section 130), in order to provide increasedflexibility of sole 105 in this area.

In some embodiments, first flex groove 150 may extend in a lateraldirection. For example, sole 105 may have a medial side 160 and alateral side 165. As shown in FIG. 2, first flex groove 150 may extendsubstantially from a medial edge 170 of lower surface 110 of sole 105 toa lateral edge 175 of outer surface 110. Further, in some embodiments,first flex groove 150 may extend completely from medial edge 170 tolateral edge 175, as shown in FIG. 2. A second flex groove 155 mayseparate second forefoot section 130 from third forefoot section 135 andmay be similarly configured to first flex groove 150.

First forefoot section 125 may be disposed in a forward-most region ofsole 105, and may include a first set of ground engaging members 180extending substantially downward from lower surface 110 of sole 105. Insome embodiments first set of ground engaging members 180 may form asubstantially arcuate first arrangement. For example, a first groundengaging member 185, a second ground engaging member 190, and a thirdground engaging member 195 may be arranged in alignment with a first arc200, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, each ground engaging member of firstset of ground engaging members 180 may have a length extending alongfirst arc 200.

First arc 200 may have a first concavity oriented in a generally lateraldirection 205. In some embodiments, the concavity of first arc 200(generally lateral direction 205) may be oriented slightly rearward, asshown in FIG. 2. This configuration may provide traction when a weareris applying torque to the ground, for example, during a cricket swing,baseball swing, golf swing, or throwing of a baseball or football.During such movements, an athlete may turn their body, and thus, applytorque to the ground about the ball of the foot. Accordingly, providingarcuate ground engaging members oriented with a concavity in a generallylateral direction may prevent slippage in the lateral direction of theforward-most portion of the athlete's rear foot while performing suchathletic movements. In addition, since many of these elongate groundengaging members in the forward-most portion of the sole are at leastsomewhat longitudinally aligned, this arrangement may prevent or reduceundesired catching of the ground engaging members of the forward-mostportion of the sole on the ground during running or other movements.

As shown in FIG. 2, second forefoot section 130 may be disposed rearwardof first forefoot section 125, and may include a second set of groundengaging members 210 extending substantially downward from lower surface110 of sole 105. Second set of ground engaging members 210 may form asubstantially arcuate second arrangement. For example, second set ofground engaging members 210 may be arranged along a second arc 215, asshown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, second arc 215 may besubstantially circular, and thus, may have a first radius 220 from afirst center point 225.

In some embodiments, the substantially arcuate first arrangement iscurved in a different direction than the second arrangement. As shown inFIG. 2, the substantially arcuate first arrangement of first set ofground engaging members 180 (indicated by first arc 200) has a firstconcavity and the substantially arcuate second arrangement of second setof ground engaging members 210 has a second concavity oriented in anopposite direction and facing away from the first concavity. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 2, the first concavity may be oriented ingenerally lateral direction 205 and the second concavity may be orientedin a generally medial direction extending from second arc 215 towardcenter point 225.

As shown in FIG. 2, third forefoot section 130 may be disposed rearwardof second forefoot section 130, and may include a third set of groundengaging members 230 extending substantially downward from lower surface110 of sole 105. Third set of ground engaging members 230 may form asubstantially arcuate third arrangement. For example, third set ofground engaging members 210 may be arranged along a third arc 235, asshown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, third arc 235 may be substantiallycircular, and thus, may have a second radius 240. In some embodiments,the substantially arcuate third arrangement of third set of groundengaging members 230 may share an approximately similar center as thesubstantially arcuate second arrangement of second set of groundengaging members 210. Thus, third arc 235 may be located at secondradius 240 from first center point 225.

The use of stud-like ground engaging members about a center point in thesecond and third sections of the forefoot may provide traction in moreof a variety of athletic movements. The stud-like ground engagingmembers may provide traction in all directions, and the arcuatearrangement about a center point in the ball of the foot may facilitatethe application of torque and general traction when the athlete is onthe ball of their foot.

In some embodiments, sole 105 may have a particular arrangement ofground engaging members in heel region 20. For example, in someembodiments, sole 105 may include a fourth set of ground engagingmembers 140 extending substantially downward from lower surface 110.Fourth set of ground engaging members 140 may form a substantiallyarcuate fourth arrangement, which may be curved along a fourth arc 245about a second center point 250. Fourth arc 245 may have a third radius255 from second center point 250, as shown in FIG. 2. As also shown inFIG. 2, in some embodiments, the substantially arcuate fourtharrangement may have a concavity in a rearward direction (from fourtharc 245 toward second center point 250). The rearward concavity mayprovide traction during both acceleration and deceleration.

Sole 105 may also include a fifth set of ground engaging members 145 inheel region 20 of the article of footwear, extending substantiallydownward from lower surface 110. Fifth set of ground engaging members145 may form a substantially arcuate fifth arrangement, which may becurved along a fifth arc 260 about second center point 250. Fifth arc260 may have a fourth radius 265 from second center point 250, as shownin FIG. 2. As also shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments, thesubstantially arcuate fifth arrangement may have a concavity in arearward direction (from fifth arc 260 toward second center point 250).

Fifth set of ground engaging members 145 may be radially spaced fromfourth set of ground engaging members 140, and thus, may be closer tosecond center point 250 than fourth set of ground engaging members 140.For example, fifth set of ground engaging members 145 beinglongitudinally displaced rearward of the fourth set of ground engagingmembers 140. That is, fourth radius 265 may be shorter than third radius255. In addition, fifth set of ground engaging members 145 may bediscontinuous with fourth set of ground engaging members 140. As used inthe present disclosure, the term “discontinuous” shall refer to groundengaging members arranged in a first pattern in a first area and asecond pattern in a second area, where spacing between the first areaand the second area provides a discontinuity between the first patternand the second pattern. For example, the first pattern may include aplurality of ground engaging members arranged with a regular spacing.The second area may be located a distance from the first area that isgreater than the regular spacing between ground engaging members of thefirst pattern.

In some embodiments, fourth set of ground engaging members 140 and/orfifth set of ground engaging members 145 may include two or more rows ofground engaging members that are radially spaced from one another, in asubstantially concentric configuration. In addition, in someembodiments, fifth set of ground engaging members 145 may be concentricwith fourth set of ground engaging members 140.

In some embodiments, the center point about which the fourth set ofground engaging members 140 and fifth set of ground engaging members 145are arced may be located off sole 105. That is, in some embodiments,second center point 250 of the substantially arcuate fourth arrangementand the substantially arcuate fifth arrangement may be located beyond aperipheral edge 270 of sole 105. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, insome embodiments, second center point 250 may be located rearward of arear-most edge 275 of sole 105. Further, in some embodiments, secondcenter point 250 may be located in substantial alignment with alongitudinal central axis 280 of sole 105.

Providing the elongate ground engaging members at the rearward-mostportion of the sole may provide traction during deceleration. Inaddition, by making these rear-most ground engaging members with aconcavity that is oriented rearward, more ground engaging members may beprovided at the peripheral edge of the sole in this region, due to theforward facing concavity of the arc formed by the peripheral edge of theheel. That is, instead of having one long ground engaging member alongthe peripheral edge, the three ground engaging members terminate in sixend portions proximate the peripheral edge. Thus, deceleration may beprovided that is similar to concave forward designs, however, additionaltraction is also provided at the periphery in a wider range of athleticmovements.

In some embodiments, sole 105 may also include a plurality ofreceptacles 285, which may be configured to receive threaded portions ofremovable ground engaging members (not shown). Further details ofreceptacles 285 and other features of sole 105 are disclosed in Binzer,U.S. Patent Application Publication No. ______, published on ______(NowU.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on even date herewith[attorney docket no. 51-2878]), and entitled “Reinforcing Member forArticle of Footwear,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of forefoot region 16 of sole 105. Asshown in FIG. 3, the ground engaging members of first set of groundengaging members 180 may have a substantially different shape than theground engaging members of second set of ground engaging members 210.For example, the ground engaging members of second set of groundengaging members 210 may have a stud-like, rectangular shape, the groundengaging members of first set of ground engaging members 180 may have asubstantially elongate shape. In some embodiments, the ground engagingmembers in first set of ground engaging members 180 may be curved alongfirst arc 200. The elongate shape of the ground engaging members infirst forefoot section 125 (including first set of ground engagingmembers 180) is illustrated in FIG. 3 using a peripheral ground engagingmember 290. First set of ground engaging members 180 may each have anelongate configuration similar to peripheral ground engaging member 290.As shown in FIG. 3, peripheral ground engaging member 290 may have awidth 295 that is shorter than a length 300. Width 295 may besubstantially constant along length 300. In addition, peripheral groundengaging member 290 may have a height 305, which may be constant alonglength 300.

In some embodiments, at least one of first set of ground engagingmembers 180, second set of ground engaging members 210, and third set ofground engaging members 230 may include two or more rows of groundengaging members having substantially the same shape. That is, within aset of ground engaging members, the ground engaging members in each rowof ground engaging members may have the same shape as the groundengaging members in adjacent rows. For example, as shown in FIG. 3,first ground engaging member 185, second ground engaging member 190, andthird ground engaging member may all have an elongate shape. Similarly,the ground engaging members of second set of ground engaging members 210may be substantially square or rectangular in each row of the set. Itwill also be noted that, in some embodiments, the shapes of these groundengaging members may be substantially different from set to set as withfirst set of ground engaging members 180 and second set of groundengaging members 210. As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the two or morerows of second set of ground engaging members may be radially spaced ina substantially concentric configuration.

It will also be noted that, in some embodiments, ground engaging membersmay differ slightly but still have substantially the same general shape.For example, elongate ground engaging members, such as provided in firstforefoot section 125 may have various lengths. Similarly, as shown inFIG. 3, the ground engaging members of second forefoot section 130 mayhave varying dimensions, yet all have a substantially rectangular ortrapezoidal shape. In addition, in some embodiments, elongate groundengaging members may be continuous, like second ground engaging member190 and third ground engaging member 195. In some embodiments, elongateground engaging members may be interrupted by other features of sole105, such as first ground engaging member 185, which is separated intotwo portions. In some embodiments, spacing between ground engagingmembers in the same set may vary. For example, rows that are moreradially outward may or may not include larger spacing between groundengaging members than rows that are positioned more radially inward.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of heel region 20 of sole 105. In someembodiments, fourth set of ground engaging members 140 and/or second setof ground engaging members 145 may include two or more rows of groundengaging members having substantially the same shape. In someembodiments, these rows may be radially spaced in a substantiallyconcentric configuration, as shown in FIG. 4. For example, fourth set ofground engaging members 140 may include a first row 310 and a second row315. First row 310 may include an arrangement of substantiallyrectangular ground engaging members 312. As shown in FIG. 4, second row315 may also include a similar pattern of substantially rectangularground engaging members. In addition, first row 310 may also include anarrangement of substantially circular ground engaging members 313. Asshown in FIG. 4, second row 315 may also include a similar pattern ofsubstantially circular ground engaging members. In some embodiments,fourth set of ground engaging members 140 may consist of the arrangementof substantially rectangular ground engaging members 312 and/or thesubstantially circular ground engaging members 313.

In addition, fifth set of ground engaging members 145 may include afourth row 320, a fifth row 325, and a sixth row 330. As shown in FIG.4, fourth row 320, fifth row 325, and sixth row 330 may each include anelongate ground engaging member. It will be noted that, in someembodiments, the ground engaging members in fifth set of ground engagingmembers 145 may have a substantially different shape than the groundengaging members of the fourth set of ground engaging members 140. Also,fifth set of ground engaging members 145 may be radially spaced fromfourth set of ground engaging members 140, as indicated by a gap 335,which is significantly larger than the spacing between ground engagingmembers in either fourth set 140 or fifth set 145.

It will also be noted that the elongate ground engaging members of fifthset of ground engaging members 145 may have a substantially similarshape to the ground engaging members in first forefoot section 125,including first set of ground engaging members 180. For example, theelongate members of fifth set 145 may have a substantially constantwidth and height.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, thedescription is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and itwill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof the invention. Although many possible combinations of features areshown in the accompanying figures and discussed in this detaileddescription, many other combinations of the disclosed features arepossible. Therefore, it will be understood that any of the featuresshown and/or discussed in the present disclosure may be implementedtogether in any suitable combination and that features of one embodimentmay be implemented in other disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claimsand their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may bemade within the scope of the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of footwear, comprising: a sole havinga lower surface exposed to the ground; a forefoot region of the articleof footwear having a first forefoot section and a second forefootsection separated by a first flex groove; the first flex groove formedby an upwardly extending elongate recess in the lower surface of thesole; the first forefoot section including a first set of groundengaging members extending substantially downward from the lower surfaceof the sole, the first set of ground engaging members forming asubstantially arcuate first arrangement; and the second forefoot sectionincluding a second set of ground engaging members extendingsubstantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, the secondset of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuate secondarrangement; wherein the first arrangement is curved in a differentdirection than the second arrangement; and wherein each ground engagingmember of the first set of ground engaging members has a lengthextending along an arc.
 2. The article of footwear of claim 1, whereinthe ground engaging members in the first set of ground engaging membershas a width shorter than the length and substantially constant along thelength.
 3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of theground engaging members in the first set of ground engaging members hasa substantially constant height.
 4. The article of footwear of claim 1,wherein the substantially arcuate first arrangement of the first set ofground engaging members has a first concavity and the substantiallyarcuate second arrangement of the second set of ground engaging membershas a second concavity oriented in an opposite direction and facing awayfrom the first concavity.
 5. The article of footwear of claim 4, whereinthe first concavity is oriented in a first generally lateral directionand the second concavity is oriented in a second generally medialdirection.
 6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the firstforefoot section is disposed in a forward-most region of the sole, andthe second forefoot section is disposed rearward of the first forefootsection.
 7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the second setof ground engaging members includes two or more rows of ground engagingmembers having substantially the same shape.
 8. The article of footwearof claim 1, wherein the ground engaging members of the first set ofground engaging members have a substantially different shape than theground engaging members of the second set of ground engaging members. 9.The article of footwear of claim 1, further including a third forefootsection including a third set of ground engaging members extendingsubstantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, the third setof ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuate thirdarrangement that shares an approximately similar center as thesubstantially arcuate second arrangement of the second set of groundengaging members.
 10. An article of footwear including a ground engagingsole, comprising: a lower surface exposed to the ground and divided, ina forefoot region of the article of footwear, into a first forefootsection and a second forefoot section by a first flex groove formed byan upwardly extending elongate recess in the lower surface of the sole;the first forefoot section including a first set of ground engagingmembers extending substantially downward from the lower surface of thesole, the first set of ground engaging members forming a substantiallyarcuate first arrangement; and the second forefoot section including asecond set of ground engaging members extending substantially downwardfrom the lower surface of the sole, the second set of ground engagingmembers forming a substantially arcuate second arrangement curved in adifferent direction than the arcuate arrangement of the first set ofground engaging members; wherein the first set of ground engagingmembers includes two or more rows of ground engaging members havingsubstantially the same shape and the second set of ground engagingmembers includes two or more rows of ground engaging members havingsubstantially the same shape; and wherein the first set of groundengaging members each have a first shape and the second set of groundengaging members each have a second shape substantially different fromthe first shape.
 11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein thesubstantially arcuate first arrangement of the first set of groundengaging members has a first concavity and the substantially arcuatesecond arrangement of the second set of ground engaging members has asecond concavity oriented in an opposite direction and facing away fromthe first concavity.
 12. The article of footwear of claim 11, whereinthe first concavity is oriented in a first generally lateral directionand the second concavity is oriented in a second generally medialdirection.
 13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the firstforefoot section is disposed in a forward-most region of the sole, andthe second forefoot section is disposed rearward of the first forefootsection.
 14. The article of footwear of claim 10, further including athird forefoot section including a third set of ground engaging membersextending substantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, thethird set of ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuatethird arrangement that shares an approximately similar center as thesubstantially arcuate second arrangement of the second set of groundengaging members.
 15. An article of footwear including a sole,comprising: a lower surface exposed to the ground; the lower surfaceincluding a first forefoot section separated from a second forefootsection by a first flex groove formed by an upwardly extending elongaterecess in the lower surface of the sole; the lower surface furtherincluding a third forefoot section separated from the second forefootsection by a second flex groove formed by an upwardly extending elongaterecess in the lower surface of the sole; the first forefoot sectionincluding a first set of ground engaging members extending substantiallydownward from the lower surface of the sole, the first set of groundengaging members forming a substantially arcuate first arrangementhaving a first concavity oriented in a first lateral direction; and thesecond forefoot section including a second set of ground engagingmembers extending substantially downward from the lower surface of thesole, the second set of ground engaging members forming a substantiallyarcuate second arrangement having a first concavity oriented in a secondlateral direction substantially opposite the first lateral direction andaway from the first set of ground engaging members; the third forefootsection including a third set of ground engaging members extendingsubstantially downward from the lower surface of the sole, the third setof ground engaging members forming a substantially arcuate thirdarrangement that shares an approximately similar center as thesubstantially arcuate second arrangement of the second set of groundengaging members.
 16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein thefirst concavity is oriented in a first generally lateral direction andthe second concavity is oriented in a second generally medial direction.17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the first forefootsection is disposed in a forward-most region of the sole, and the secondforefoot section is disposed rearward of the first forefoot section. 18.The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein at least one of the firstset of ground engaging members, the second set of ground engagingmembers, and the third set of ground engaging members includes two ormore rows of ground engaging members having substantially the sameshape.
 19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the two or morerows are radially spaced in a substantially concentric configuration.20. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the first forefootsection is separated from the first forefoot section by a first flexgroove formed by an elongate recess extending upward into the sole, andwherein the second forefoot section is separated from the third forefootsection by a second flex groove formed by an elongate recess extendingupward into the sole.
 21. An article of footwear including a groundengaging sole, comprising: a lower surface exposed to the ground; afirst set of ground engaging members extending substantially downwardfrom the lower surface of the sole in a heel region of the article offootwear, the first set of ground engaging members forming asubstantially arcuate first arrangement curved about a center point; anda second set of ground engaging members in the heel region of thearticle of footwear and extending substantially downward from the lowersurface of the sole, the second set of ground engaging members beingradially spaced from the first set of ground engaging members; thesecond set of ground engaging members being concentric with the firstset of ground engaging members, forming a substantially arcuate secondarrangement curved about approximately the same center point as thefirst set of ground engaging members.
 22. The article of footwear ofclaim 21, wherein at least one of the first set of ground engagingmembers and the second set of ground engaging members includes two ormore rows of ground engaging members having substantially the sameshape.
 23. The article of footwear of claim 22, wherein the two or morerows are radially spaced in a substantially concentric configuration.24. The article of footwear of claim 21, wherein the center point of thesubstantially arcuate first arrangement and the substantially arcuatesecond arrangement is located beyond a peripheral edge of the sole. 25.The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the center point of thesubstantially arcuate first arrangement and the substantially arcuatesecond arrangement is located rearward of a rear-most edge of the sole,in substantial alignment with a longitudinal central axis of the sole.26. The article of footwear of claim 21, wherein the ground engagingmembers of the first set of ground engaging members have a substantiallydifferent shape than the ground engaging members of the second set ofground engaging members.
 27. The article of footwear of claim 21,wherein the ground engaging members of the second set of ground engagingmembers are located proximate a rear-most edge of the sole, and whereinthe ground engaging members of the second set of ground engaging memberseach have an elongate shape, including a length extending along an arcof the substantially arcuate second arrangement.
 28. The article ofclaim 27, wherein the ground engaging members in the second set ofground engaging members has a width shorter than the length andsubstantially constant along the length, and a height that issubstantially constant along the length.
 29. An article of footwearincluding a ground engaging sole, comprising: a lower surface exposed tothe ground; a first set of ground engaging members extendingsubstantially downward from the lower surface of the sole in a heelregion of the article of footwear, the first set of ground engagingmembers forming a substantially arcuate arrangement with a concavity ina rearward direction; and a second set of ground engaging members in theheel region of the article of footwear, extending substantially downwardfrom the lower surface of the sole, and forming a substantially arcuatearrangement with a concavity in a rearward direction; the second set ofground engaging members being longitudinally displaced rearward of, anddiscontinuous with, the first set of ground engaging members; whereinthe first set of ground engaging members includes two or more rows ofground engaging members having substantially the same shape and thesecond set of ground engaging members includes two or more rows ofground engaging members having substantially the same shape; and whereineach ground engaging member in the second set of ground engaging membershas a length extending along an arc, a width that is shorter than thelength and substantially constant along the length, and a height that issubstantially constant along the length.
 30. The article of footwear ofclaim 29, wherein the ground engaging members of the first set of groundengaging members have a substantially different shape than the groundengaging members of the second set of ground engaging members.
 31. Thearticle of footwear of claim 29, wherein the ground engaging members ofthe second set of ground engaging members are located proximate arear-most edge of the sole.
 32. The article of footwear of claim 29,wherein the substantially arcuate first arrangement and thesubstantially arcuate second arrangement share a center point that islocated beyond a peripheral edge of the sole.
 33. The article offootwear of claim 32, wherein the center point is located rearward of arear-most edge of the sole, in substantial alignment with a longitudinalcentral axis of the sole.
 34. An article of footwear including a groundengaging sole, comprising: a lower surface exposed to the ground; afirst set of ground engaging members extending substantially downwardfrom the lower surface of the sole in a heel region of the article offootwear, the first set of ground engaging members forming asubstantially arcuate first arrangement with a concavity in a rearwarddirection; and a second set of ground engaging members in the heelregion of the article of footwear, extending substantially downward fromthe lower surface of the sole, and forming a substantially arcuatesecond arrangement with a concavity in a rearward direction; the secondset of ground engaging members being longitudinally displaced rearwardof, and discontinuous with, the first set of ground engaging members;wherein the second set of ground engaging members are disposed proximatethe rearward most edge of the lower surface of the sole; and whereineach ground engaging member in the second set of ground engaging membershas a length extending along an arc.
 35. The article of footwear ofclaim 34, wherein the substantially arcuate first arrangement and thesubstantially arcuate second arrangement share a center point that islocated beyond a peripheral edge of the sole.
 36. The article offootwear of claim 35, wherein the center point is located rearward of arear-most edge of the sole, in substantial alignment with a longitudinalcentral axis of the sole.
 37. The article of footwear of claim 34,wherein the ground engaging members of the first set of ground engagingmembers have a substantially different shape than the ground engagingmembers of the second set of ground engaging members.
 38. The article offootwear of claim 34, wherein the ground engaging members of the secondset of ground engaging members each have a width that is shorter thanthe length and substantially constant along the length, and a heightthat is substantially constant along the length.
 39. The article offootwear of claim 34, wherein at least one of the first set of groundengaging members and the second set of ground engaging members includestwo or more rows of ground engaging members having substantially thesame shape.
 40. The article of footwear of claim 39, wherein the two ormore rows are radially spaced in a substantially concentricconfiguration.